Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-03
FIRING OF THEATLANTA's GUNS.
Trining and Can Easily BE
Remedfed.

A Washington special says: The
report of the board Of naval officers
appointed to examine the Atlanta, and
to ascertain the damage sustained
during recent target practice, was re-
ceiyed by the Secretary of the Navy
to day. The report says:
The recoil and counter recoil OF the
s. ard 6-inch guns were easy and salts
factory, except at the second fire of the
S-inch breech-loading rifle No. l, when
the gun remained in. CThe gun was
readily run out with a tackle.) The
action Of the carriage at the first fire
was due to want of strength in the clips
and clip circles, and at the second fire
to went Of sufficient bearing and secu-
ring of the deck-cocket. II is believed
that had the deck-socket held the car
rage would not have been disabled by
the giving way of the clips.
TIE action of the after 6-inch SHIFT
ing gun No. was satisfacto y, rotwith-
standing that the front clips had play
of half an inch. The action of the
broadside carriages of Cir ch guns Nos.
) and IL was satisfactory, except the
breaking Of clips, the starting of the
copper riyets IN tie clip citcles, and
wood screws in the training circles.
The firing of the six-pounder II. T.
guns developed weakness in one leg
Of the caoenount OF No. 4 due to i'm
perfect workmanship, aud also the ne
cessity of locking nuts in the bolts
that secure TIE mounts to the
pots. The lowe" mounts of the three
podnder II. L. guns sre unsatisfactory.
They carnot be moved with ia lilly,
The line of sight o. TIE gun is oo'
ST. lc,ed ut ranges beyond 1000 yards,
and the guns cannot h safely used as
row fitted. For this reason three
pounder L. T. No. 3 was not fired.
The tripod mount of the one-pounee
II. L. guns need stronger holding-3own
arrangements. The tower mounts of
the AZ VI. NJ. r. C. are like those of the
thrce-pounder Il. L. guns, and have
the me defects.
Careful observation Of the effect of
the firing upo the hull o. the vessel
failed to develop any damage other than
the breaking of the cast-steel port sills
AMI the starting OF some light wood
wor.,.. The shock of discharge was
slight in the berth deck. and observers
there were unable TO observe which six
inch gun had been fired. The deck,
hull, ane. fittings, with the exception of
the port stills, hinges to supcrstrucSure
doors and vegetable lockers, and some
of the light woodwork have every az
pearauCc of strength and ability to en-
durc the strain of continuous firing f
tie guns
lie blast of the forward eight-inch
CUP, when fired abait the starboard
beam will not permit the crews OF the
starloard fiye-pouDder Il. +. and one
pourder Il. +. TO remain at their guns.
When Il after six inch gun is fired
forward of the port beam the crews Of
tie after AZ NJ. NJ. L. G. and o.
the port after ouc-poundor Il. j.
cannot remain ut the guns.
When the forward six-inch shifting
gun is fred on the port bow. ordirecly
ahead, the crew OF forward eigh' inch
gun cannot remain at their places.
When the after six-inch shifting gun is
fred Oh the starboard quarter, or
directly aft, the crew of the after eight
il III gun cannot remain Mt their places.
The inability to fire parts of the
secondary ba terry under certain condi-
tons is due to the great are Of fire
giveh to the eight-inch guns. This c9l
hardly be called defect. 1t is thought
that a seven c N bc p'cced between the
eight aud six-ipch guns, which will
enable them to be worked together for
ward or aft.
The board states concisely its opin-
ions as to the changes demanded, which
consist principally in the method OF
fastening the bearing surfaces to the
sccl deck, the construction o. CLIPS and
clip circles, &c. The report says in con-
cllsion that the plan Of testirg the hull,
guns, ani fittings of the Atlanta ar
ranged by the board contemplated q
more extended Use Of the main battery,
but the weakness developed in the Fort
sills and in the sockets OF the 8-inch
carl ages rendered further firing mad
visible.
Seer Try Whitney says the defects
reported by the board and the damage
sustained by the ship are triding as
compared with those rumored to have
bceG discovered, and that they are such
as can be easily and speedily remelied.